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Laws governing ballot measures in Illinois
From Ballotpedia
This page provides an overview of resources addressing the laws and procedures that govern statewide and local ballot measures in Illinois, including the initiative and referendum process, constitutional amendments, signature requirements, recall procedures, and campaign finance regulations.
Explore the links below for more information:
- Types of ballot measures in Illinois
- Laws governing the initiative process in Illinois
- Amending the Illinois Constitution
- Laws governing local ballot measures in Illinois
- Signature requirements for ballot measures in Illinois
- Laws governing recall in Illinois
- Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Illinois
- Campaign finance requirements for Illinois ballot measures
- Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Illinois
Laws governing ballot measures in Illinois
Types of ballot measures in Illinois
- Illinois has two types of citizen-initiated ballot measures: initiated constitutional amendments and initiated advisory questions.
- In Illinois, the legislature can refer constitutional amendments, bond measures, advisory question, and constitutional convention questions to the ballot.
Laws governing the initiative process in Illinois
- In Illinois, citizens have the power to initiate constitutional amendments and advisory questions.
- Illinois adopted the initiative and referendum process in 1970, with voter approval of a new constitution.
- Illinois voters have only decided on one constitutional amendment since 1970. The initiative, which reduced the size of the state House, was approved with 69% of the vote.
Amending the Illinois Constitution
- Illinois became a state in 1818. The current state constitution was ratified in 1970.
- The Illinois Constitution can be amended in three ways:
- Legislatively referred constitutional amendment: The state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot, with a 60% vote in each legislative chamber.
- Initiated constitutional amendment: Citizens can initiate constitutional amendments in Illinois, but the amendments can only amend Article IV of the Illinois Constitution, which addresses the structure of the state legislature.
- Convention-referred constitutional amendment: A state constitutional convention can vote to refer constitutional changes to the ballot.
- According to Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution, a question about whether to hold a constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1918. Illinois is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
Laws governing local ballot measures in Illinois
- Illinois law provides for an advisory local initiative process on questions of public policy. A binding referendum is required on limited matters, such as tax levies and bonds.
Signature requirements for ballot measures in Illinois
- In Illinois, the number of signatures required for a ballot initiative is tied to the number of votes cast in the preceding gubernatorial election.
- An initiated constitutional amendment requires a number of signatures equal to 8% of the votes cast for governor.
- The deadline for submitting signatures to get an initiative or referendum on the ballot for a particular general election is six months before that election.
Laws governing recall in Illinois
- Illinois adopted a recall process in 2010, when voters approved an amendment authorizing the governor to be recalled.
- The Illinois Constitution does not explicitly authorize the recall of local officials. Authority varies by local jurisdiction.
Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Illinois
- According to Article XIV of the Illinois Constitution, a question about whether to hold a constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1918. Illinois is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.
- A 60% vote of both chambers of the Illinois State Legislature is required to place a constitutional convention question on the ballot.
- Approval of the constitutional convention question requires a simple majority vote.
Campaign finance requirements for Illinois ballot measures
- PACs that support or oppose ballot measures in Illinois must register and report campaign finance.
Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Illinois
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
The Illinois State Legislature did not pass legislation concerning ballot measures in 2025.
See also
Footnotes
